Ty Montgomery and Wilbert Montgomery are both former NFL running backs who share the same last name, but are they related? The answer is no, they are not blood relatives, but they do have some connections and similarities in their careers. Here is a closer look at the two Montgomerys and how they compare.
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Ty Montgomery: A Versatile Weapon
Ty Montgomery is a current NFL player who plays as a wide receiver for the New England Patriots. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft as a wide receiver, but later switched to running back in 2016 due to injuries on the team. He played for the Packers until 2018, when he was traded to the Baltimore Ravens. He then signed with the New York Jets in 2019 and the New Orleans Saints in 2020, before joining the Patriots in 2022.
Montgomery is known for his versatility and ability to play multiple positions on offense and special teams. He has accumulated 6,789 yards rushing, 2,502 yards receiving, 814 yards returning kickoffs, and 57 total touchdowns (45 rushing, 12 receiving, one kickoff return) in his career. He has also been selected to two Pro Bowls (2018 and 2020) and won a Super Bowl ring with the Saints in 2021.
Wilbert Montgomery: A Philadelphia Legend
Wilbert Montgomery is a former NFL player who played as a running back for the Philadelphia Eagles and the Detroit Lions. He was drafted by the Eagles in the sixth round of the 1977 NFL Draft as a running back, and played for them until 1984. He then finished his career with the Lions in 1985.
Montgomery is considered one of the greatest players in Eagles history, as he holds or previously held several franchise rushing records, such as career attempts (1,465), rushing yards (6,538), attempts in a season (338 in 1979), rushing yards in a season (1,512 in 1979), career 100-yard rushing games (26), and touchdowns in a game (four). He also led the NFL with 2,012 all-purpose yards (rushing, receiving, returns) in 1979. He was selected to two Pro Bowls (1978 and 1979) and helped the Eagles reach their first Super Bowl appearance in 1980, when he rushed for a franchise postseason record 194 yards against the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Championship Game.
The Connections Between Ty and Wilbert
Although Ty and Wilbert are not related by blood, they do have some connections and similarities in their careers. Here are some of them:
- They both played for the same college conference: Ty played for Stanford University in the Pac-12 Conference, while Wilbert played for Abilene Christian University in the Southland Conference.
- They both wore number 31 for most of their careers: Ty wore number 31 for all of his teams except for the Patriots, where he wears number 14. Wilbert wore number 31 for all of his teams.
- They both played for the same NFL team: Ty played for the Lions in 1985, while Wilbert played for them in his final season.
- They both coached or currently coach in the NFL: Ty is currently an assistant coach for the Patriots, while Wilbert was a running backs coach for several teams, including the St. Louis Rams, Baltimore Ravens, and Cleveland Browns.
- They both have ties to Philadelphia: Ty was born in Jackson, Mississippi, but grew up in Dallas, Texas. His father is from Philadelphia and was a fan of Wilbert when he played for the Eagles. Wilbert played eight seasons for the Eagles and is regarded as one of their best players ever.
According to Wikipedia, Ty has said that he admires Wilbert and considers him an inspiration. He also said that he would like to meet him someday and learn from him.
Conclusion
Ty Montgomery and Wilbert Montgomery are both former NFL running backs who share the same last name, but they are not related by blood. However, they do have some connections and similarities in their careers that make them interesting to compare. They are both versatile players who excelled at multiple positions on offense and special teams. They also both wore number 31 for most of their careers and played for the same NFL team at some point. They also both have ties to Philadelphia, where Wilbert is a legend and Ty’s father is from. Ty has expressed his admiration and respect for Wilbert and hopes to meet him someday.
